Forty One - BF
"Come on slowpoke." Virgil said cheerfully as he waited for Scott to finish his morning ablutions. He leant against the wall and folded his arms casually. "Dusty's waiting."
It was two weeks after Scott had hit Virgil and things had improved markedly. Their friendship was as strong as it had ever been, and Scott was beginning to take his changed life in his stride.
"I haven't finished shaving yet." Scott's voice was muffled by sound of the razor. It stopped and he appeared at the door to the ensuite bathroom. "How do I look?"
"You missed a bit."
"Where?" Scott felt his chin.
"Not there. Your top lip."
"Oh that. I'm trying to grow a moustache." Scott said smugly.
"Going for a new look are you?"
"Yep. Thought it might impress the ladies."
"Well that'll really impress them. You've shaved half of it off."
Scott fingered his top lip. "Darn." He said lightly. "Must have been force of habit. Oh well I'd better go even it up." He disappeared back into the ensuite and Virgil heard the shaver start up again.
Scott was out again a moment later. "Better?"
"Much."
"Good." Scott headed over to the dresser and picked up his hairbrush. "Why do you think they put mirrors in these rooms?"
"Why do you still try to look in it?"
"Some habits are hard to get out of."
"So just where do you think you're going to meet any ladies anyway?" Virgil asked. "The only one you see regularly is Dusty, and she's married."
"We're going into town today aren't we. I may as well look my best. I'm quite a catch. Young, handsome, talented, great personality, son of a billionaire..."
"And with an ego the size of North America."
Scott laughed.
There was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." Virgil opened the door. "Come in Dusty. We'll be ready as soon as he's finished preening himself."
She smiled as she took in how relaxed they both were. Things had certainly improved over the last couple of weeks. "Ready for your trip to town, Scott."
He laid down the hairbrush. "I think so." He headed for the door.
"Hey!" Virgil said. "You forgot this."
"What?" Scott felt Virgil place the end of his cane against his hand. "Oh, yeah. I guess I might need that later. I have to be ready to protect any damsels in distress." He pretended to sheath the cane like a sword and strode confidently from the room unaided.
Virgil raised his eyes heavenward and Dusty burst out laughing.
***
"I think it's time for you to go home, Virgil."
"What?"
It had been a successful day. Scott had confidently negotiated the unfamiliar streets, paid for lunch, and embarrassed Virgil by loudly telling a busker that his brother was a better pianist than him.
Virgil had escaped before Scott had a chance to make him prove it.
"In my opinion Scott doesn't need your support so much now. He can cope on his own."
"What do you think, Scott?"
Scott was looking surprised. "I hadn't thought about it."
"You won't need to be here for much longer." Dusty explained. Scott looked pleased. "We've just got to iron out a few rough edges and improve your Braille reading skills. It's nothing that Virgil can help you with and it'll be an opportunity for him to make sure that your house doesn't have any hidden traps."
"She's right Virgil." Scott admitted. "I think I can stand on my own two feet now..."
***
It was two weeks after Virgil returned to Tracy Island, and the Tracy household was abuzz.
Scott was finally coming home.
The place was tidied up and a few alterations had been put in to make it easier for him.
Jeff smiled at his mother. "Won't be long now. Virgil'll be picking him up shortly."
"It'll be so wonderful to have him home." Grandma clasped her hands together in pleasure. "To have the whole family together again."
***
Scott was enjoying the ride in the car. It felt great to know that he was finally heading back where he belonged. "So how's everyone?" he asked the driver.
"Fine, fine. Excited about you coming home." Virgil told him.
"This is a long trip. Are we heading to the airport?"
"No. We're going to a farm."
"A farm? Where? Why?" Scott was confused.
"Here. And I'll show you why in a minute." Virgil turned off the road and the car bumped gently along as it drove over the unsealed road. He pulled up outside a barn. "This is where we get out."
Scott opened the car door and stepped out. "Sure sounds and smells like a farm..."
There was a shout from across the paddock. "Everything sorted Virgil?"
"Sure is Frank. Thanks for lending us the car. Scott this is Frank Read - agent 107."
Scott heard the crunch of a footstep on the gravel. "Nice to meet you Frank." He held out his hand in greeting.
"Glad to meet you Scott." Frank shook the proffered hand. "Would you both like a cup of coffee before you head off?"
"No thanks. We'd better get home." Virgil said. "Is the barn clear?"
"Just as you left it." Frank said.
Scott was confused. What did a barn have to do with going home? He felt Virgil offer his arm and he took it as a guide.
"We thought you might want to head home in style Scott." Virgil said conversationally as they entered the building.
"In a barn?"
"No. Give me your hand." Virgil placed Scott's hand on the craft they were about to board.
"Thunderbird One!" Scott recognised the feel of the rocket plane instantly. "I should have guessed with all the secrecy. And it could only be One, we'd never fit your 'bird in a barn."
Virgil was quiet and Scott suddenly realised that in the last couple of months there could have been some changes as to the 'ownership' of the various Thunderbird craft. To try and relieve the sudden tension Scott continued talking.
"How come I'm privileged enough to warrant being flown home in Thunderbird One. We never use it for personal use."
"We were out on a rescue." Virgil explained. "It was decided that it would have been easier for me to swing by and pick you up, than to head home and grab the jet. We're lucky that Frank lives nearby and has a ventilated barn."
"Ventilated barn?" Scott heard a motor start up and then felt the hot sun warm his back as the roof retracted. "Oh, I see."
"Climb aboard." Virgil said. "We'll take off in two minutes." Scott eagerly complied.
***
"How was the rescue?" They'd been airborne for five minutes and Scott was keen to find out what changes had occurred since he'd been gone.
"Fairly straightforward. Some miners were trapped underground. Alan and Gordon got them out in The Mole."
"Were you manning Mobile Control?"
"Yeah. I'm not on full duties yet. It's my first mission since I got back home."
"Has Father said who's going to take my place?"
"No." Virgil's answer was curt.
Scott let the subject drop.
Virgil felt he'd been a little sharp with his reply. "Would you like a go?"
"Would I like a go at what?" Scott asked.
"You know. Flying her."
"Flying Thunderbird One." Scott breathed. "I'd love to, but would I be able to?"
"I don't see why not. You've done it often enough."
"Father would have a fit!"
"He doesn't need to know everything does he? There's not another living soul about for miles. We're perfectly safe." Virgil was grinning as he set the rocket plane into hover mode.
Scott's hands were shaking as he undid his safety harness. 'Better get them under control' he thought as he slid into the familiar pilot's seat. "Are you sure about this Virgil?"
"Of course I'm sure. Just don't try any fancy stunts, I haven't got my safety harness on. I'll stand here and keep an eye on the gauges."
It was like greeting an old friend again, one that he'd believed had died. Scott pressed the throttle forward, feeling the rocket planes motors surge into life. "Virg! This is great!"
They continued on towards home in this way for five minutes. Scott piloting with ease, Virgil occasionally reading out changes in altitude or wind speed.
Eventually Virgil placed a hand on Scott's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but we're nearly home."
Scott was in a buoyant mood "Don't you trust me enough to land her?"
"I'm more worried about the reception I'd get from our father."
Chuckling Scott relinquished the pilots seat. "Thanks Virg. That's just capped off my day."
"Come on slowpoke." Virgil said cheerfully as he waited for Scott to finish his morning ablutions. He leant against the wall and folded his arms casually. "Dusty's waiting."
It was two weeks after Scott had hit Virgil and things had improved markedly. Their friendship was as strong as it had ever been, and Scott was beginning to take his changed life in his stride.
"I haven't finished shaving yet." Scott's voice was muffled by sound of the razor. It stopped and he appeared at the door to the ensuite bathroom. "How do I look?"
"You missed a bit."
"Where?" Scott felt his chin.
"Not there. Your top lip."
"Oh that. I'm trying to grow a moustache." Scott said smugly.
"Going for a new look are you?"
"Yep. Thought it might impress the ladies."
"Well that'll really impress them. You've shaved half of it off."
Scott fingered his top lip. "Darn." He said lightly. "Must have been force of habit. Oh well I'd better go even it up." He disappeared back into the ensuite and Virgil heard the shaver start up again.
Scott was out again a moment later. "Better?"
"Much."
"Good." Scott headed over to the dresser and picked up his hairbrush. "Why do you think they put mirrors in these rooms?"
"Why do you still try to look in it?"
"Some habits are hard to get out of."
"So just where do you think you're going to meet any ladies anyway?" Virgil asked. "The only one you see regularly is Dusty, and she's married."
"We're going into town today aren't we. I may as well look my best. I'm quite a catch. Young, handsome, talented, great personality, son of a billionaire..."
"And with an ego the size of North America."
Scott laughed.
There was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." Virgil opened the door. "Come in Dusty. We'll be ready as soon as he's finished preening himself."
She smiled as she took in how relaxed they both were. Things had certainly improved over the last couple of weeks. "Ready for your trip to town, Scott."
He laid down the hairbrush. "I think so." He headed for the door.
"Hey!" Virgil said. "You forgot this."
"What?" Scott felt Virgil place the end of his cane against his hand. "Oh, yeah. I guess I might need that later. I have to be ready to protect any damsels in distress." He pretended to sheath the cane like a sword and strode confidently from the room unaided.
Virgil raised his eyes heavenward and Dusty burst out laughing.
***
"I think it's time for you to go home, Virgil."
"What?"
It had been a successful day. Scott had confidently negotiated the unfamiliar streets, paid for lunch, and embarrassed Virgil by loudly telling a busker that his brother was a better pianist than him.
Virgil had escaped before Scott had a chance to make him prove it.
"In my opinion Scott doesn't need your support so much now. He can cope on his own."
"What do you think, Scott?"
Scott was looking surprised. "I hadn't thought about it."
"You won't need to be here for much longer." Dusty explained. Scott looked pleased. "We've just got to iron out a few rough edges and improve your Braille reading skills. It's nothing that Virgil can help you with and it'll be an opportunity for him to make sure that your house doesn't have any hidden traps."
"She's right Virgil." Scott admitted. "I think I can stand on my own two feet now..."
***
It was two weeks after Virgil returned to Tracy Island, and the Tracy household was abuzz.
Scott was finally coming home.
The place was tidied up and a few alterations had been put in to make it easier for him.
Jeff smiled at his mother. "Won't be long now. Virgil'll be picking him up shortly."
"It'll be so wonderful to have him home." Grandma clasped her hands together in pleasure. "To have the whole family together again."
***
Scott was enjoying the ride in the car. It felt great to know that he was finally heading back where he belonged. "So how's everyone?" he asked the driver.
"Fine, fine. Excited about you coming home." Virgil told him.
"This is a long trip. Are we heading to the airport?"
"No. We're going to a farm."
"A farm? Where? Why?" Scott was confused.
"Here. And I'll show you why in a minute." Virgil turned off the road and the car bumped gently along as it drove over the unsealed road. He pulled up outside a barn. "This is where we get out."
Scott opened the car door and stepped out. "Sure sounds and smells like a farm..."
There was a shout from across the paddock. "Everything sorted Virgil?"
"Sure is Frank. Thanks for lending us the car. Scott this is Frank Read - agent 107."
Scott heard the crunch of a footstep on the gravel. "Nice to meet you Frank." He held out his hand in greeting.
"Glad to meet you Scott." Frank shook the proffered hand. "Would you both like a cup of coffee before you head off?"
"No thanks. We'd better get home." Virgil said. "Is the barn clear?"
"Just as you left it." Frank said.
Scott was confused. What did a barn have to do with going home? He felt Virgil offer his arm and he took it as a guide.
"We thought you might want to head home in style Scott." Virgil said conversationally as they entered the building.
"In a barn?"
"No. Give me your hand." Virgil placed Scott's hand on the craft they were about to board.
"Thunderbird One!" Scott recognised the feel of the rocket plane instantly. "I should have guessed with all the secrecy. And it could only be One, we'd never fit your 'bird in a barn."
Virgil was quiet and Scott suddenly realised that in the last couple of months there could have been some changes as to the 'ownership' of the various Thunderbird craft. To try and relieve the sudden tension Scott continued talking.
"How come I'm privileged enough to warrant being flown home in Thunderbird One. We never use it for personal use."
"We were out on a rescue." Virgil explained. "It was decided that it would have been easier for me to swing by and pick you up, than to head home and grab the jet. We're lucky that Frank lives nearby and has a ventilated barn."
"Ventilated barn?" Scott heard a motor start up and then felt the hot sun warm his back as the roof retracted. "Oh, I see."
"Climb aboard." Virgil said. "We'll take off in two minutes." Scott eagerly complied.
***
"How was the rescue?" They'd been airborne for five minutes and Scott was keen to find out what changes had occurred since he'd been gone.
"Fairly straightforward. Some miners were trapped underground. Alan and Gordon got them out in The Mole."
"Were you manning Mobile Control?"
"Yeah. I'm not on full duties yet. It's my first mission since I got back home."
"Has Father said who's going to take my place?"
"No." Virgil's answer was curt.
Scott let the subject drop.
Virgil felt he'd been a little sharp with his reply. "Would you like a go?"
"Would I like a go at what?" Scott asked.
"You know. Flying her."
"Flying Thunderbird One." Scott breathed. "I'd love to, but would I be able to?"
"I don't see why not. You've done it often enough."
"Father would have a fit!"
"He doesn't need to know everything does he? There's not another living soul about for miles. We're perfectly safe." Virgil was grinning as he set the rocket plane into hover mode.
Scott's hands were shaking as he undid his safety harness. 'Better get them under control' he thought as he slid into the familiar pilot's seat. "Are you sure about this Virgil?"
"Of course I'm sure. Just don't try any fancy stunts, I haven't got my safety harness on. I'll stand here and keep an eye on the gauges."
It was like greeting an old friend again, one that he'd believed had died. Scott pressed the throttle forward, feeling the rocket planes motors surge into life. "Virg! This is great!"
They continued on towards home in this way for five minutes. Scott piloting with ease, Virgil occasionally reading out changes in altitude or wind speed.
Eventually Virgil placed a hand on Scott's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but we're nearly home."
Scott was in a buoyant mood "Don't you trust me enough to land her?"
"I'm more worried about the reception I'd get from our father."
Chuckling Scott relinquished the pilots seat. "Thanks Virg. That's just capped off my day."